How to get into wedding videography

rafikiwilliams

rafikiwilliams

Well-known member
Hey everyone, what is the best way to get into the wedding videography business?

I have the following equipment, will it be adequate?

1-sony fx7
1-rode ntg2

macbook
final cut studio 2

What is the average price for a wedding videographer, with only 1 camera?


any input will be appreciated! thanks
 
if i were you, i would try to hook up with another wedding videographer to learn the ropes, figure out what they charge and then work your own stuff from the side. don't steal their clients, but the best way to learn is to work under somebody who already knows what they're doing, see how they do it, and then approach it from your own point of view.
 
It depends on your area and season as well. When you think about it, someone who wants their wedding filmed on a nice August day, is likely willing to pay more than somebody who wants it done on a blistery cold October day - provided there are outdoor sequences.

Hooking up with another videographer is always a good idea. I did it last year and enjoyed myself thoroughly. I learned a lot from the guy and he's been incredibly nice in showing me how to get a handle on it. I only made about $100 per wedding, but all I had to do was be second camera operator and no editing was required of me. I didn't mind at all and this year, I might work with him again and may get paid more per wedding as I now have experience.

I've considered doing this full-time as well, but you really have to have some sort of experience for that to happen.

Good luck,

Kegan
 
Absolutely find a videographer to work with, like everyone else has mentioned.
There is no substitute for first hand experience.
But I'd be careful about who you go to.
My suggestion would be to find the videographers in your market - find out their pricing, their experience, and most importantly look at their product.
Find someone who is working at a level and a style that you'd like to be at, or see yourself heading towards.
Learning from someone first hand is invaluable, but you want to make sure you're learning the proper things.

As far as your equipment list goes - the one thing that seems to be missing is a wireless lav mic, which is just about as essential to wedding videography as the camera is.

Also, I would mention that if you consider striking out on your own (after learning the ropes a bit) - you should really think about hiring out a second camera person at least for the ceremony. Generally you'll be able to charge more for 2 cameras anyhow, so the client will be paying the difference - and it will make your final product much better and (just as importantly) easier to edit for you.

One camera weddings are never any fun to edit (at least that's my experience).
You can definitely get away with it for the reception - but the ceremony is pretty tough to shoot (and therefore edit) with only 1 camera.

Best of luck to you.
 
Well hopefully I will be able to find a good videographer to hook up with. Im in the LA area so there should be a good many around here...

Also i'm currently in college right now, and have a few friends who are also in college and are getting married soon. seeing as theyre college students and dont have a lot of money to spend on a videographer, would it be a wise move to volunteer my services for no/low cost?

this would be a chance to build my portfolio


and Luis, after thinking about it, i see your point of editing a 1 video wedding... making the ceremony portion would be the hardest part to make "un-boring" as you only have one angle...
 
my advice...

you see a wedding... run the opposite way... just run... and save yourself... forget about the children.. just run.. and don't look back!

its too late for me... but you can save yourself... !!

weddings.... *shudder*
 
Would an established wedding shooter happily hand over the keys to the vault? Teach a potential competitor? From a biz POV it wouldn't seem like a prudent move. A guy once taught me how to make infomercials, dumb as they are, there are thing you need to know and they guarded those production methods zealously.
 
Most wedding videographers that I've met seem to enjoy talking about their business with anyone who is interested in actually listening and learning. Wedding videos don't get a lot of respect sometimes - so I think many would be happy to share their knowledge with someone who is sincerely interested in it.

Of course, I wouldn't walk into anyone's business and say 'I'm thinking of starting my own wedding business, can I follow you around so I can compete against you?"

It's always a give and take - many (I would say most) wedding videographers use freelance or parttime shooters as B cameramen. Shooting B camera for an established videographer can be the best way to learn - you see everything first hand without the pressure of being responsible for the whole thing. Also, it will teach you what you need to do as a B camera op which will make it easier for you to direct anyone shooting B camera for you in the future.

Of course, shooting is only a small part of the equation.
The best thing to do would be to get work shooting and editing for an established videographer - which obviously can be a bit more difficult. But, I think if you shoot with a few different people, and do what you can to watch their work, you'll be up and running in no time.
 
alright so i just booked a wedding for a friend for early may, I wont be charging much, just enough to cover expenses. excited as this will be a great opportunity to begin making a demo reel for future jobs. as i get more information about the location i will post back up here to try and get your guys input as to what kind of angles and shots to get. thanks for all the input so far everyone!
 
gain your experience and go do your own work. I get about 400-500 per shoot, with 2 dvx's. and 5-700 to edit them. the pay sucks but its the only gig option i have right now. so the quicker you get out on your own the better and then you can rake in some phat cash.
 
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